this is going to sound like a daft question..... (dipstick)

[snowdmc]

Where is the max fill mark on a v12 dipstick?

i can see the lower mark at the start of the indent, but then you have the end of the indent which i expected would be full, but then a half inch hashed area above this?

Am i right in thinking that full is the end of the indent, however the oil can be above this in the hashed area but no more?

Hope that makes sense.

[SESH]

Hi, I think you will find that the hashed area is the area between max and min.
Mike

[snowdmc]

im not sure thats correct. on my old 4.2 the dipstick was flat and had a mark at the bottom and a mark at the top of the hashed area, however on the v12 the dipstick is indented which seems to denote min and max marks and then a hashed area above this. if the hashed area was mix and max, why have the indent? (the indent is about half an inch long)

[snowdmc]

I spoke to my Etype mechanic Thomas Barclay, he said for the V12 the top of the indent is max with the bottom of the indent being min and the hashed area is not part of the measurement.

[MarkE]

It says in the S3 handbook:

"....if the oil is on the knurled patch, with the engine hot or cold, no additional oil is required"

I've always kept mine towards the top of that patch, which is where it sits after an oil change with the full 10 litres.

[snowdmc]

ah ok, thanks for that, that makes sense too, always handy to have a bit extra in there for those long journeys.

Thanks for looking it up.

[SESH]

It says in the S3 handbook:

"....if the oil is on the knurled patch, with the engine hot or cold, no additional oil is required"

I've always kept mine towards the top of that patch, which is where it sits after an oil change with the full 10 litres.

Exactly my point. The hashed area is the area between max and min.

Mike.

[snowdmc]

No it's not, the min is the bottom of the indent whereas anywhere on the knurled area is the max

[snowdmc]

and in many respects the mech is correct too, as it can be in the bottom 1mm of the knurled area and still be full.

[SESH]

The point I was trying to make was that Jaguar in the handbook stipulate that you need to add oil to always keep it within the knurled area on the dipstick. Therefore in Jaguars words once the level has dropped and reached the top notch you need to add oil. I noticed on my V12 dipstick the letter E next to the bottom line. I wouldn't want to get that low. So the top line (below the knurled section) should be the lowest you go. (Quoting Jaguar in the handbook).
Mike

[MarkE]

It is very unclear from the handbook description....these things from the 60s and 70s are usually aimed at educating a 6 year old and are usually so patronising....but clear!

But when I've changed the oil with exactly the correct amount, and run the engine, the level on the dipstick is about half way up the hatched bit. With such a sump capacity, a pint here or there probably doesn't matter!